E1368 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 14, 2004 PAYING TRIBUTE TO EIGHTH and Iron’s Big Mine when he turned seventeen Jones, Jr. Senator Jones has been serving the STREET MISSIONARY BAPTIST to help support his family. This responsibility people of Illinois as a state legislator for more CHURCH taught him a strong work ethic early in his life. than 30 years. Throughout his career, he has Harry’s personal loss of his father to a mining been a dedicated supporter of education and HON. SCOTT McINNIS accident inspired him to become active in the disadvantaged. A life long resident of Chi- OF COLORADO workplace safety at the mine, and join a team cago, Senator Jones has provided a pas- sionate voice for Chicagoans as the leader of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES to compete in Colorado’s Industrial First Aid and Accident Prevention competitions. When the Illinois State Senate. Tuesday, July 13, 2004 the coalmines closed he went on to work as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to a Forest Service technician, a job that re- Chicago Cubs, Andy MacPhail has a long con- pay tribute to the Eighth Street Missionary quired him to be a man of many talents. He nection with the Lakeview Neighborhood, first Baptist Church in Pueblo, Colorado. For many did everything from providing the necessary working for the Cubs in 1977. As one of the years, the church has been spiritually uniting maintenance of campgrounds to acting as a most successful executives in Major League members of the Pueblo community, and I am supervisor for the summer work crews. Baseball, Mr. McPhail has also worked for the privileged to join my colleagues in recognizing A devoted family man, Johnny was married Houston Astros and the Minnesota Twins, a its positive impact on the community before to Frances Starkovich, for over fifty years. In team that won two World Championships this body of Congress and this nation today. his free time, he enjoyed dancing with his wife while he was at the helm. Under Mr. McPhail’s The Eighth Street Missionary Baptist Church and cultivating flowers in his garden. In addi- management, the Cubs were the National has been a place of worship and friendship for tion to those passions, his love for skiing kept League Central Division Champions last year, members of Pueblo for well over a century. him active throughout the winter. and are again fighting for the pennant. Accord- The church’s roots can be traced back into the Mr. Speaker, the Gunnison community will ingly, I applaud the selection of Mr. McPhail 1870’s, but the exact date of its inception is sorely miss John Somrak. He will be remem- as Business Leader of the year. unknown as a result of a flood destroying the bered as a dedicated worker and committed Last, but not least, I congratulate Paula and documentation. Many early members of the family man. I wish to express my deepest con- Peter Fasseas on being selected as the Busi- congregation can be identified as freed slaves, dolences to Johnny’s family and friends in this ness Leaders of the Year. Metropolitan Bank relocating in Pueblo to establish a new life difficult time of bereavement. Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer with new opportunities. Now, many members Peter Fasseas and Vice Chairman Paula f Fasseas have been involved in all facets of of the community find comfort in the Eighth the Lakeview community since purchasing Street Missionary Baptist Church. Recently, HONORING THE JOHN MERLO North Community Bank in 1978. The number the church announced plans for a new build- SPORTS PROGRAM of civic organizations that have been touched ing to house the church to better serve its by the Fasseas is too numerous to mention, members. HON. RAHM EMANUEL but I am particularly proud of their work with Mr. Speaker, the Eighth Street Missionary OF ILLINOIS Pets Are Worth Saving (PAWS), the non-profit Baptist Church remains an important part of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES organization founded by Mr. and Mrs. Fasseas the lives for many community members. The Tuesday, July 13, 2004 in 1998 dedicated to encouraging pet adop- church has a century old record of bringing tion. people together and creating a strong commu- Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, it is my privi- lege today to recognize the contributions of Mr. Speaker, I applaud the leadership of nity. I thank the leadership and the members The John Merlo Sports Program, its founder of Eighth Street Missionary Baptist Church for the John Merlo Sports Program for its tireless efforts in providing sports programs and other Bernie Hansen, and current President Mike their service to the community, and wish them Quigley on the incredible work they are doing all the best in their future endeavors. activities for children and senior citizens in the Lakeview Neighborhood of Chicago, on the for Chicago’s youth and seniors. I would also f occasion of its 23rd Annual Awards Dinner like to commend the tremendous leaders PERSONAL EXPLANATION The annual Sports Program Dinner, hosted being honored this year, and wish the program again at Chicago’s own Wrigley Field, is an continued success in the future. HON. MAJOR R. OWENS opportunity to recognize both the great work f the Sports Program has accomplished in the OF NEW YORK PAYING TRIBUTE TO KAREN past year, as well as the achievements of so IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GREEN many members of our community who help Tuesday, July 13, 2004 make Lakeview one of the best neighborhoods in the City of Chicago. This year, I am pleased HON. SCOTT McINNIS Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, because of an OF COLORADO to congratulate Senator Emil Jones, Andy emergency in my district, I missed rollcall IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES votes Nos. 359, 360, 361 and 362. If present McPhail, and Paula and Peter Fasseas on I would have voted ‘‘yea’’ on rollcall votes 359, being recognized for their unwavering commit- Tuesday, July 13, 2004 361 and 362 and ‘‘nay’’ on rollcall vote 360. ment to Chicago. Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to f The John Merlo Sports Program has con- pay tribute to Karen Green, of Aspen, Colo- sistently demonstrated its commitment to pro- rado. Karen is a talented teacher that moti- PAYING TRIBUTE TO JOHN viding the Lakeview community with a variety vates students to study our nation’s history. WILLIAM SOMRAK of excellent athletic programs as well as fund- Her dedication to learning inspires students in ing for the renovations of Chicago Park District many ways, and I am privileged to acknowl- HON. SCOTT McINNIS Playlots. Its fundraisers, programs, and hon- edge her before this body of Congress and OF COLORADO orees, are an integral part of the success of this nation today. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the program, and I thank everyone in attend- Karen has been an educator for twenty-two ance for their assistance and dedication to this years and has also taught in Glenwood Tuesday, July 13, 2004 outstanding program. Springs, and Cherry Creek in Denver. This Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a Founded in 1981, the John Merlo Sports year Karen was the only Colorado educator to heavy heart that I rise to pay tribute to the life Program is a charitable organization named be awarded the inaugural Preserve America and memory of John William Somrak of Gun- after the late John Merlo, a beloved former Al- History Teacher of the Year Award. The newly nison, Colorado. ‘‘Johnny,’’ as he was affec- derman, State Representative, State Senator established national award program was cre- tionately known, recently passed away, and he and Democratic Committeeman, who rep- ated by first lady Laura Bush and is co-spon- will be remembered as a pillar of his commu- resented the Lakeview community for nearly sored by the Preserve America Foundation nity. As his family and community mourn his 30 years. Mr. Merlo, a staunch advocate for and Gilder Lehrman Institute of American His- passing, I would like to take this opportunity to the benefits of participating in sports, felt good tory. In addition to her award Karen was also recognize his life before this body of Congress sportsmanship, and the ability to interact with complimented with a one thousand dollar do- and this nation. others were important skills that everyone nation to the High School, 20 history books, Johnny was born and raised in Crested should possess. multimedia, copies of primary documents and Butte, Colorado. After losing his father at a This year’s awards are led by the Civic some meaningful works of literature and phi- young age, he went to work for Colorado Fuel Leader of the Year, Senate President Emil losophy in original form.

VerDate jul 14 2003 05:21 Jul 15, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K13JY8.002 E14PT1 July 14, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1369 Karen is obviously a phenomenal teacher as range of human rights. And it will allow self- (non-riparian) 0.20 MAF, Punjab (riparian) this is not the only award that she has re- determination for these sovereign states. 4.22 MAF and Jammu and Kashmir (riparian) ceived. Last year she was awarded the Most Until that happens, Mr. Speaker, we should 0.65 MAF. Under clause IV of this agreement, not provide any aid to India. And we should Punjab and Haryana withdrew their respec- Inspirational Teacher Award and a ten thou- tive suits from the Supreme Court. But the sand dollar donation from the Basalt commu- take a stand for self-determination, which is controversy rages on. The issue has become nity where she used to teach from 1993 to the cornerstone of democracy, by supporting a emotive. 2003. Most recently, she qualified for a free and fair plebiscite on independence in Referring to the broad clauses of the pro- weeklong seminar at Stanford University with Punjab, Khalistan, in Kashmir, in predomi- posed Bill, Capt Amarinder Singh main- Pulitzer-Prize winning historian David Ken- nantly Christian Nagaland, and everywhere tained that riparian and basin principles nedy. She was one of only thirty teachers in- that people seek their freedom from Indian were ignored all along and allocation of the vited. rule. The assertion of sovereignty by the Pun- Ravi-Beas waters had always been affected Mr. Speaker, Karen Green has devoted her jab Legislative Assembly is a good first step. by ‘‘ad hoc decisions and agreements, dic- tated by prevalent circumstances’’. Here was career to expanding the minds of Colorado They should act to claim their sovereignty by a typical case involving ‘‘emotive’’ issue of students and her colleagues. She is a dedi- severing their ties to India. We should take a impending transfer of water from ‘‘deficit’’ cated teacher who demonstrates a strong pas- stand by letting them know that when they do, Ravi-Beas basin to the ‘‘surplus’’ Yamuna sion for learning and I am honored to recog- we will be there with them. basin. nize her accomplishments before this distin- Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before, I would Never any reliable and scientific study of guished body of Congress and this nation like to insert the Tribune article into the hydrological, ecological and sociological im- today. Congratulations on your award Karen, RECORD. pact of such large scale trans-basin diversion from Punjab to Haryana and Rajasthan had and thank you for your many years of service. [From the Tribune (Chandigarh), July 13, been undertaken. Besides this transfer, di- 2004] f version was even contrary to the National PUNJAB ANNULS ALL WATER PACTS: CONG, Water Policy guidelines, he added. PUNJAB GOVERNMENT CANCELS AKALIS JOIN HANDS ON ISSUE DEAL THAT ALLOWED DIVER- Capt Amarinder Singh pointed out, ‘‘Non- (By P.P.S. Gill) riparian and non-basin states of Haryana and SION OF WATER TO OTHER CHANDIGARH, July 12.—A special session of Rajasthan are not only not entitled to any STATES; LEGISLATURE ASSERTS the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today unani- Ravi-Beas waters, even their current alloca- SOVEREIGNTY mously passed the Punjab Termination of tion and utilisation is totally dispropor- Agreements Bill, 2004, thereby ‘‘knocking tionate to the areas alleged to be falling in HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS down’’ the very basis on which the Supreme the Indus basin. Therefore, Punjab, as a good Court had passed its order on construction of neighbour, has accepted such utilisations by OF NEW YORK SYL—Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal on June 4, Haryana and Rajasthan as ‘usages by suffer- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES last. This Bill annuls the December 31, 1981, ance’ but not as a matter of any recognition Tuesday, July 13, 2004 agreement between Punjab, Haryana and of their rights’’. Rajasthan signed by the three Chief Min- He supported this hypothesis, when he Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, the Legislative isters in the presence of the late Ms Indira posed the question, ‘‘Does Punjab have sur- Assembly of Punjab recently annulled a long- Gandhi and also all other agreements relat- plus water and do the claimants of our water standing agreement that allowed the diversion ing to the water of the rivers, Ravi and Beas. a legal right to it?’’ Then, he paused for ef- of water from Punjab to other states. This, the Bill says, was done in ‘‘public in- fect, ‘‘The answer to this question is a re- According to the Tribune of Chandigarh, terest’’. The annulment has come after 23 sounding ‘no’’’, and went on to give the fol- whose article I will be inserting in the RECORD long years with two staunch political rivals, lowing picture: at the end of my remarks, the Legislative As- the Congress and the Akalis, joining hands All three rivers, the Ravi, the Beas and the Sutlej, flow through the present Punjab and sembly asserted the sovereignty of Punjab in to protect the state’s riparian rights. Imme- diately after the Bill was passed, the Chief none through either Haryana or Rajasthan. doing so. The newspaper reports that the bill Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, accom- No part of territories of these states fall passed by the Legislative Assembly says that panied by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr within the basin areas of the Ravi and the ‘‘as a sovereign authority [Punjab] considered Parkash Singh Badal, PPCC president, Mr Beas, although, according to un-substan- it its duty to uphold the Constitution and the H.S. Hanspal, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Mr tiated report of the Irrigation Commission, laws and to protect the interests of its inhab- Partap Singh Bajwa and a team of legal ex- only 9,939 sq. kms. within Haryana fall in itants.’’ perts went to Raj Bhavan to meet the Gov- Indus basin, against 50,305 sq. kms. of Pun- Apparently, all parties supported this meas- ernor, Justice O.P. Verma (retd.), to request jab. Again, the present utilisation by Haryana ure. We congratulate them on taking this step him to give his assent to the Bill, as the dead-line for compliance with the Supreme was about 5.95 MAF, about 4.33 MAF from forward to protect the interests of the people Court order was July 15. The combined dele- Sutlej and about 1.62 MAF from the Ravi- of Punjab. I urge them to continue claiming, gation spent an hour with the Governor. The Beas water, through the existing systems. promoting, and establishing the sovereignty of Raj Bhavan sources said, ‘‘The Bill is being Also out of 17.17 MAF of ‘‘surplus’’ Ravi-Beas Punjab. examined.’’ water, only 4.22 MAF was allocated to Pun- Mr. Speaker, we know that the people of Capt Amarinder Singh told TNS that he jab, a riparian state, against higher quan- Punjab have been severely oppressed by the had not discussed the Bill with Ms Sonia tities to Haryana and Rajasthan. From the tyrannical Indian government. Over a quarter Gandhi. ‘‘Why involve her? When I go to total surplus availability of 11.98 MAF of the of a million Sikhs have been killed since 1984, Delhi, I shall brief her’’. Beas water, Punjab has been allocated 2.64 Presenting the Bill to the House, Capt. MAF. according to the Punjab State Magistracy. The Amarinder Singh made an emotive speech Therefore, justifying the annulling of the Movement Against State Repression reports giving facts, figures and background to the December 31, 1981, agreement and all other that 52,268 have been taken as political pris- entire issue of sharing of river waters and agreements relating to the Ravi and the oners, held without charge or trial, some as steps taken in the recent past to protect and Beas, the Bill seeks to present the fact that long as 20 years. According to the Punjab safeguard the interests of Punjab, particu- ground realities have since undergone a sea Human Rights Commission, about 50,000 larly the farmers and save nine lakh acres change from that date and Punjab settle- Sikhs have simply been made to disappear by going dry and barren, which would affect the ment of July 24, 1985, under the Rajiv- being arrested, tortured, killed in police cus- livelihood of 1.5 million families. Longowal Agreement. Therefore, this had The Bill says that Punjab was proud of its made the implementation of that 1981 agree- tody, declared ‘‘unidentified bodies,’’ and se- position in the Indian union, felt equal con- ment ‘‘onerous and injurious’’ to the public cretly cremated, without their remains even cern for its neighbours and as a sovereign au- interest. being given back to their families. thority also considered it its duty to uphold The availability of the Ravi-Beas water, Similar repression has been visited on the constitution and the laws and to protect 1717 MAF, as on December 31, 1981, has been Christians, Muslims, and other minorities. Yet the interests of its inhabitants. reduced to 14.37 MAF, as per the flow series India continues to say that it is the world’s Under the 1981 agreement, flow series were of 1981–2002. Haryana has been given 4.65 MA largest democracy. changed from 1921–45 to 1921–60, which had under the Yamuna agreement of May 12, If India is truly a democracy, it will allow the the result of increasing the availability of 1994, which will be further augmented by the Ravi-Beas waters from 15.85 MAF to 17.17 Sarda-Yamuna link. In the meanwhile, irri- will of the people to be carried out in regards MAF. The allocation of water made to the gation requirements have increased in Pun- to the diversion of water. It will allow the peo- states concerned under that Agreement was jab. ‘‘The Punjab settlement, except one ple—Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, Assamese, as under: para 9, relating to allocation of the Ravi- Bodos, Dalits, Manipuris, Tamils, and every- Haryana (non-riparian) 3.50 MAF, Beas water, has remained unimplemented in one living under Indian rule—to enjoy the full Rajasthan (non-riparian) 8.60 MAF, Delhi letter and spirit, to date.’’

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